Tunisia

Facts about the country:

Population: 8.074.000
Area: 163.610 km2
Density: 49,35 hab./km2

Capital: Tunis

Idiomas: Arab (official), French

Religiones: Islamism

Forma de gobierno: Presidential republic

Moneda: Tunisian dinar

About the country:

Bounded on the north and east by the Mediterranean Sea, on the south by Libya, and on the west by Algeria. The total area is 163,610 sq km (63,170 sq mi). Tunisia's Mediterranean coast is indented by many harbours and inlets, notably the gulfs of Tunis, Hammamet, and Gabes. The Gulf of Gabes contains the islands of Jarbah (Djerba) and Qarqannah (Kerkennah). The total length of coastline is about 1,148 km (750 mi). In general it has a mild Mediterranean climate prevails in the north of Tunisia; toward the south the climate becomes progressively hotter and drier. In the north, temperatures average 8.9° C (48° F) in January and 25.6° C (78° F) in July. The northern regions have a rainy season that lasts from October to May. Average annual rainfall is about 610 mm (24 in) but may vary greatly from year to year. Annual rainfall decreases to the south and is only about 200 mm (8 in) in the Sahara. The plant life of Tunisia, particularly that found in the coastal region, is similar to that of southern Europe. The fertile, well-watered regions of the north are characterized by flourishing vineyards and by dense forests of cork oak, pine, and juniper trees. Farther south, the semiarid conditions support a steppe vegetation dominated by wild grasses, notably esparto grass, and a wide variety of shrubs. In the arid regions of the extreme south, date palms flourish in oases. Among the wildlife found in the country are hyena, wild boar, jackal, gazelle, and hare. Several varieties of poisonous snakes, including cobras and horned vipers, are also present. The capital and largest city of Tunisia is the seaport of Tunis, with a population of 629,000 (1991). Other important cities include Sfax, or Safaqis (500,000), Sousse, or Susah (107,000), and Bizerte (88,000). The Tunisian economy is dominated by agriculture and mining. Tourism is also important, and manufacturing is expanding. Tunisia has an annual gross national product (GNP) of US$12.417 billion (World Bank figure; 1989-1991 figures), or US$1,450 per capita. In the early 1990s the estimated annual national budget showed US$4.3 billion in revenue and US$5.5 billion in expenditure. Tourism is an important source of foreign exchange in Tunisia, and the government has done much to expand and improve the country's tourist facilities. In the early 1990s more than 3.2 million visitors generated more than US$680 million annually for the Tunisian economy. Among the country's attractions are its fine beaches and its archaeological sites, including the site of the ancient city of Carthage.

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